The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted at its Aug. 6 regular meeting to approve the replacement of the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at the county airport in Hampton.

A significant power surge recently caused severe damage to the existing AWOS equipment, according to officials, and it is at the end of its useful life. The contract with DBT Transportation Services for the new system is $128,329 but the county is eligible for 90 percent federal reimbursement and 5 percent state reimbursement, making the local match only $6,416.45. Airport officials have also chosen to run new electrical wiring to the system to ensure everything will work properly and to protect its investment.

That total cost is $44,507.94 but qualifies for the same reimbursement plan, meaning the county will pay $2,225.40 for it.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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